Slit-rim liners



April 25, l967 J. M. RODRIGUEZ ETAL 3,315,683

sLIT-RIM LINERS 'Filed Dec. lO, 1965 @gms 75511@ @l 721' |11'. n l l @rw a /35 INVENTORS.

J L 1 l Q. m/Z BYWWMM ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,315,683 SMT-RIM LINERS l M .lose M. Rodriguez, 439 W. Overbrook St., Largo, Fla. 33540, and Amelia R. Soneira, 245 Fort Washington Ave., New York, N.Y. 10032 Filed Dec. 10, 1965, Ser. No. 513,008 2 claims. (ci. 12a-1) This invention relates to a slit-rim liner, and more particularly to such a device which may be secured to the edge of a sheet of paper providing an aperture through which a securing ring or the like may be positionsd thereby securing the sheet of paper to a binder, notebook or the like.

It is known in the prior art to provide liners or reinforcements for apertures adjacent the edge of a sheet of paper for precluding the inadvertent tearing thereof by a notebook ring or the like securing the sheet of paper thereto. The customarily used device for such a purpose is, of course, a planar annular piece of material carrying an adhesive backing which can only be aixed on an aperture formed by a sheet of paper when the sheet is removed from a notebook binder.

To overcome the necessity of removing the sheet of paper from the associated notebook, reinforcements of the instant invention are made -consisting of a small piece of material having a central aperture communicating with the periphery thereof by a slot and backed with a suitable adhesive. When using this form of liner or reinforcement, the notebook will be opened to the` appropriate page with the ring being inserted into the central opening by Way of the outwardly extending slot at which time the reinforcement is secured to the page by the adhesive substance thereon. As will be more fully explained hereinafter, the outwardly extending slot may be of any desired configuration and may be of the type that folds over the edge of a sheet of paper.

It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a liner or reinforcement which may be folded over the inside edge of a sheet of paper protecting the material adjacent the opening formed thereby without requiring the removal -of the page from the notebook.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a liner or reinforcement of the character described which may be detached from an elongate strip of similar articles.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a slit-rim liner having a central aperture communieating with the periphery thereof through a groove or slot which may be inexpensively manufactured, readily assembled and which is long lasting and provides structural strength for a sheet of paper secured in a notebook.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a slit-rim liner of the character described which may be utilized to form an aperture spaced from the inner edge of a sh-eet of paper for securing it to a notebook ring, stationary post or the like without necessitating the opening of the notebook ring or the disassembly of the stationary pillar.

A still further object of the instant invention is to provide a slit-rim liner which may be attached to the inner edge of a sheet of paper for forming an aperture adjacent thereto with the area adjacent the aperture being of substantially the same thickness as a combined thickness of the paper and the securing segments connecting the liner thereto.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention, as well as the invention itself, reside in the combinations and arrangements of parts, and features of construction and utilization, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawing wherein there ate shown preferred embodiments of this inventive concept.

In thedrawing:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational View of a sheet 0f paper forming a plurality of apertures adjacent one edge thereof, two of which are reinforced by slit-rim liners of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partial transverse cross-sectional View of the sheet of paper and reinforcement of FIGURE 1 taken substantially along line 2 2 thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view of a strip of slitrim liners of the instant invention comprised of a plurality of foldable slid-rim liners;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational View of another strip of reinforcements composed of a plurality of slitrim liners of the instant invention;

FIGURE 5 is a partial transverse cross-sectional view of the sheet yof paper of FIGURE 1 taken substantially along line 5 5 thereof viewing in the direction of the arrows and illustrating the assembly of the slit-rim liner of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a front elevational view of another strip of reinforcements consisting of a plurality of slit-rim liners constituting another form of the instant invention;

FIGURE 7 is a partial transverse cross-sectional View of th-e sheet of paper of FIGURE 1 taken substantially along line 7-7 thereof viewing in the direction of the arrows and illustrating the assembly of the slit-rim liner of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a partial front elevational view of a sheet of paper carrying still another form of the slit-rim liner of the instant invention;

FIGURE 9 is a front elevational view of a strip of slit-rim liners of another form of the instant invention;

FIGURE 10 is a partial transverse cross-sectional view of the sheet of paper of FIGURE 8 taken substantially along line 1li-10 thereof illustrating the securement of the slit-rim liner of FIGURE 9 thereto;

FIGURE 11 is a front elevational view of another strip of slit-rim liners constituting a plurality of slit-rim liners of another form of the instant invention; and

FIGURE 12 is a front elevational View of a strip 0f slit-rim liners which is composed of a plurality of liners made in accordance with the principles of the instant invention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein like reference characters designate like elements throughout theseveral views thereof, there is indicated generally at 10 a sheet of paper having a rectangular body 12 forming upper and lower parallel edges 14, 16, inner and outer edges 18, 20 and a plurality of apertures 22, 24, 26 positioned adjacent inner edge 18 and separated therefrom by a small strengthening segment 28 of body 12. Reinforcing aperture 22 is a slit-rim liner designated generally at 30 constituting a substantially square sheet of material 32 forming a central opening 34 with a groove or slot 36 connecting opening 34 with the periphery of sheet 32.

It will be seen that liner 30 may be secured about aperture 22 when a notebook ring or the like is extending therethrough since slot 36 provides an entrance into opening 34. Liner 30 may then be pressed against body 12 with an adhesive substance on the back thereof providing a means of securement.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, a strip of reinforcing liners is designated generally at 38 comprising a plurality of slit-rim liners shown generally at 40 including a piece or segment of 'flexible material 42 having one side covered with an adhesive substance indicated by the spreckles. It should be understood that liners 40 may be formed into a continuous sheet, which is used herein to include strip. Each of segments 42 includes a pair of lateral edges 44 'a central opening 50 disposed on the lengthwise axis of segment 42 and each of which communicate with upper- 'most laterial edge 44 through a slot or rgroove 52.

As may be seen from FIGURE 3, a plurality of liners 40 may be secured together along end edges 46 to provide strip with a severance line corresponding to end edge 46 being provided for readily separating each of liners from strip 38. =In the assembly of liner 4t) on sheet 10, it will be separated from strip 38 by tearing segment 42 along the severance line corresponding to end edge 46 and then folded along central fold line 48. Assuming that page 10 is inserted into a notebook or the like, and it is inconvenient to remove it for any reason, one section of segment 42 may be placed on the back side of page 10 receiving the post thereof into opening 50 through slot 52. The other section of segment 42, if desired, will be folded around inner edge 18 of page 10 with the post being received into opening 50v through slot 52. Liner 40 may then be secured to page 10 by the adhesive substance in a known manner.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, another strip of reinforcements is shown ygenerally at 54 and is made of a plurality of slit-rim liners shown generally at S6. Liners `56 include a piece or segment of flexible material shown generally at 58 forming a pair of upper and lower lateral edges 60, 62 extending generally in the direction of the lengthwise axis thereof. Strip v54 forms a plurality of spaced pairs of openings 64 between which are located openings 66 such that the openings formed thereby are equally spaced. One of openings 64 communicates through a slot 68 with lateral edge 60 while the other opening 64 communicates with lateral edge 62.

The end edges of segment 58 are formed by a pair of severance lines 70, 72 intersecting each of openings 66 as may be seen in FIGURE 4. Severance lines are substantially parallel and spaced from the center of opening 66 with severance lines 72 being substantially parallel and spaced in the other direction from the center of openings 66. Three fold lines 73, 74, 75 divide segment 58 into four sections 76, 78, 80, 82 with sections 76, 82 acting as an additional reinforcing member with portions `84, 86 thereof formed by the outermost severance line in conjunction with opening 66 acting to overlie slots, 68 as may be seen in FIGURE 5.

In the assembly of slit-rim liner 56, it may be detached from strip 54 by tearing along severance lines 70, 72 and folded along central fold line 74 with inner edge 18 of page 10 being received between sections 78, 80 as may be seen in FIGURE 5. The ring or post of the associated notebook is received in openings 64 by passage through slots 68 with a suitable adhesive substance being provided on the underside of sections 78, such that they may be secured to page 10 surrounding aperture 24. Sections 76, 82 will then be folded along fold lines 73, 7S to overlie sections 78, 80 and may be provided With a suitable ad- -hesive material, indicated by spreckles shown in FIGURE 4, and secured thereto. It should be noted that strengthening portions 84, 86 overlie slot 68 of the adjacent material section thereby precluding a force exerted on the outer edge of liner 56 from tearing if from page 10. If

it is desired to utilize only half of liner 54, fold line 74 m-ay be stamped as a severance line thereby providing a pair of identical segments.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, a strip of reinforcements is indicated generally at 88 comprising a plurality of slitrim liners shown generally at 90 including a piece or segrnent of flexible material 92 which are separated from adjacent strips by a plurality of transverse severance lines 94 forming the end edges of segments 92. Liners 91) form a pair of lateral edges 96 and a pair of openings 98, 19) with opening 98 communicating with lateral edge 96 through a slot or groove 162. Opening 108 communicates with the near end edge through a slot 184 While a central fold line 106 substantially bisects segment 92.

In the attachment of liner 90 to page 10, segment 92 folded along central fold line 186 with the post extending through aperture 22 being received by openings 98, 100 through slots 102, 194 as previously mentioned. A layer of suitable adhesive material will provide for the securement of liner 90y to the edge of body 12. It should be pointed out that slots 182, 104 are arranged at substantially right angles to each other when assembled on page 10 thus providing a liner having no exaggerated zone of weakness such as would be created if slots 102, 104 extended in the same direction from openings 98, 100. If it is desired to use liner 90 as a single layer liner, fold line 186 may be stamped as a severance line thereby providing for the saparation of segment 92.

Referring now to FIGURE 8, another page is indicated generally at 198 having a body 118 forming an upper edge 112, an inner edge 114 and an outer edge 116 With another form of slit-rim liner indicated generally at 118 being secured adjacent inner edge 114. As may be seen in FIGURE 9, liners 118 are joined together to form a strip of reinforcements indicated generally at 129 with the plurality of severance lines 122 being provided thereby for detaching liners 118 and forming the end edges thereof.

Each of liners 118 is made of a segment or piece of ilexible material 124 folded along a fold line 126, which als forms one lateral edge thereof, to provide a pair of overlying sections 128. Sections 128 form another lateral edge 130 extending generally in the lengthwise direction of strip 120 with an insert 132 being received adjacent fold line 126 and extending intermediate the transverse dimension of sections 128. An opening 134 is formed by sections 128 and insert 132 for receiving a ring of a notebook or the like with a groove o1' slot 136 providing access thereto.

In the assembly of liner 118 to page 108 the portions of sections 118 extending outwardly past insert 132 act as a pair of securing segments with the inner surfaces thereof being covered with a suitable adhesive material. Inner edge 114 of page 108 will be received between these securing segments abutting insert 132 with the adhesive substance providing a secure connection. It will be apparent that the use of liner 118 provides an opening through which a notebook ring or the like may extend without necessitating the creation of an aperture in page 108. It should also be noted that insert 132 is of substantially the same thickness as body 110 such that the overall thickness of liner 118, when assembled, remains substantially the same.

Referring now to FIGURE 11, another form of slitrim liner is indicated generally at 136 and is identical to liner 118 except for the configuration of the slot providing access into the central opening. A central opening 140 is formed communicating with a lower lateral edge 142 by a slot composed of a first section 144 substantially perpendicular to edge 142 and a diagonal section 146. Although diagonal slots 146 may be aligned, they are illustrated as being offset to obviate the creation of a particular zone of Weakness.

Referring now to FIGURE l2, another form of slit-rim liner is designated generally at 138 and is identical to liners 118, 136 except for the configuration of a slot 148 providing access to a central opening 150. As is apparent, slot 148 describes a triangular shaped segment having the apex thereof in communication with opening 150.

It is now seen that there is herein provided an imf proved slit-rim liner which accomplishes all of the objects of the instant invention and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of the instant inventive concept, and since ymany modifications may be made in the embodiments hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that the foregoing is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A slit rim liner comprising a segment of material having an adhesive substance on a side thereof for connecting said segment to a sheet of material, said segment having first and second openings extending transversely therethrough with said openings being spaced from one another along a lengthwise dimension of said segment, first and second slots extending transversely through said segment and communicating, respectively, between said rst and second openings and the periphery of said segment, a irst fold line spaced equi-distant between said openings and extending transverse to said lengthwise direction to lallow said segment to be folded thereon to align said iirst and second openings with one another and to provide a pair of lateral edges extending generally in the direction of said lengthwise direction, said first and second slots extending transversely of said lengthwise dimension toward opposite lateral edges, said segment having second and third fold lines formed therein and extending transverse of its lengthwise dimension and spaced on opposite sides of said openings from said first fold line dividing said segment into four sections, the outer sections providing end edges transverse to the lengthwise dimension and an arcuate cutout communicating with each end edge, the end edge including a rst portion spaced `from the center of the arcuate cutout away from the openings and a second portion spaced toward the openings, said first portion on one edge -being diagonal from the iirst portion of the other edge, the iirst portion of each end edge intersecting the same lateral edge as the nearest slot.

2. The structure of claim l wherein the outer sections are provided with an adhesive substance on the side opposite from the segment side covered with adhesive.

References Cited by the Examiner UNTED STATES PATENTS 915,790 3/1909 McComb 129-18 X 919,621 4/ 1909 McComb 129-1 1,304,417 5/1919 Underwood 129-18 X 1,687,859 10/1928 Fontaine 40-27 X 2,589,168 3/1952 Vassar 129-1 X 2,764,501 9/1956 Perri 129-1 X 3,107,673 10/1963 Haddad 129-1 OTHER REFERENCES Dennison Catalog 38, Dennison Mfg. Company, copyright 1938, page 41. (Copy in Design Division.)

JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SLIT RIM LINER COMPRISING A SEGMENT OF MATERIAL HAVING AN ADHESIVE SUBSTANCE ON A SIDE THEREOF FOR CONNECTING SAID SEGMENT TO A SHEET OF MATERIAL, SAID SEGMENT HAVING FIRST AND SECOND OPENINGS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THERETHROUGH WITH SAID OPENINGS BEING SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER ALONG A LENGTHWISE DIMENSION OF SAID SEGMENT, FIRST AND SECOND SLOTS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THROUGH SAID SEGMENT AND COMMUNICATING, RESPECTIVELY, BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND OPENINGS AND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID SEGMENT, A FIRST FOLD LINE SPACED EQUI-DISTANT BETWEEN SAID OPENINGS AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSE TO SAID LENGTHWISE DIRECTION TO ALLOW SAID SEGMENT TO BE FOLDED THEREON TO ALIGN SAID FIRST AND SECOND OPENINGS WITH ONE ANOTHER AND TO PROVIDE A PAIR OF LATERAL EDGES EXTENDING GENERALLY IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID LENGTHWISE DIRECTION, SAID FIRST AND SECOND SLOTS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID LENGTHWISE DIMENSION TOWARD OPPOSITE LATERAL EDGES, SAID SEGMENT HAVING SECOND AND THIRD FOLD LINES FORMED THEREIN AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSE OF ITS LENGTHWISE DIMENSION AND SPACED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID OPENINGS FROM SAID FIRST FOLD LINE DIVIDING SAID SEGMENT INTO FOUR SECTIONS, THE OUTER SECTIONS PROVIDING END EDGES TRANSVERSE TO THE LENGTHWISE DIMENSION AND AN ARCUATE CUTOUT COMMUNICATING WITH EACH END EDGE, THE END EDGE INCLUDING A FIRST PORTION SPACED FROM THE CENTER OF THE ARCUATE CUTOUT AWAY FROM THE OPENINGS AND A SECOND PORTION SPACED TOWARD THE OPENINGS, SAID FIRST PORTION ON ONE EDGE BEING DIAGONAL FROM THE FIRST PORTION OF THE OTHER EDGE, THE FIRST PORTION OF EACH END EDGE INTERSECTING THE SAME LATERAL EDGE AS THE NEAREST SLOT. 